Just been diagnosed with Moderate Prostrate cancer and i have been given the usual options of treatment available. My first thought is To go for robotic surgical removal which will hopefully get rid of the offending article once and for all. I have also given a lot of credence to radiotherapy which is lees prone to complications especially incontinence !
Of those here who also been unfortunate enough to be in the same position, what did you have done and how did it go.
It’s always good to hear from people who have been through the process especially as I’m about to start it.
Very sorry to hear that. I can’t advise but do wish you all the best.
There's a few in here with experience to offer advice, but just want to wish you all the best.
Out of interest, was it a routine check or symptoms that led to it being found?
My grandfather’s treatment killed him before the cancer had a chance.
My father has refused, because everything they offer will stop his old chap working.
I’m watching closely.
I also have prostitis which has been giving me grief for at least 4 months, so i had a blood test which showed a raised PSA, which led to an MRI which led to a biopsy, which led to my diagnosis last week.
Groan....
Iainc of this parish is the goto chap for removal options. I've had the tour for the robot treatment but my first template biopsy appears to have removed all the cancerous cells. I'm awaiting my turn for a TURP as I have a very large prostate that is impeding my ability to pee.
Bear in mind if you go down the radioactive implant route for treatment prostate removal is no longer an option. If it comes back you're stuck with the cancer.
@hornetfancier impotence or incontinence are side effects and depend on prostate size and his anatomy the percentages are reasonably encouraging for success.
Use the Internet to get experiences, and advice on living with the situation, but be very wary of listening to non clinicians about your treatment plan.
Everyone is different, which will impact treatment. Listen in detail to what your clinicians say, even take notes if it helps as it is very difficult to take on board everything you are told at the time.
Sorry to hear that..
Have a chat with your urologist/oncologist, and really listen to the options, and think what suits you best.
The thing about certain prostate cancers is that SOME can be left, UNTREATED, for many years, with no consequence. This isn't because "the NHS doesn't care about prostate cancer" etc etc, it's simply because in some cases, treating a condition can lead to a worse (side effects etc) outcome than simply leaving it.
It's kinda like a crack in your house wall/foundations. Yeah, a massive one needs input ASAP, but a small crack, that's not changing..it's NOT worth the risk of digging up the whole underpinnings just to treat a simple little crack...
DrP
There’s a few of us on here who’ve been through this, I’m sure they'll be along soon.
Mine was 14 years ago now, so treatment options have probably changed a bit, but I quite quickly decided that I wanted to go for surgery even with the side effects risk. I wanted if possible to be rid of it. It didn’t quite work out that simple but overall I don’t regret my decision.
I ended up with radiotherapy and drugs as well but I believe that because of the surgery they were able to be more effective.
A lot does depend on your individual situation and staging, so your teams advice is important, but reading and talking to others can definitely help with your decision.
Feel free to message through here or email if you need any advice or just to chat.
I am sorry for your diagnosis and reiterate the docs advice to listen to the experts. 2 friends have avoided operatons and are managing their condition by alternative methods, some foodstuffs like dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds for e.g., no idea if they work hut 1 friends daughter is a doctor and that's what he is doing.
I wish you all the best.
My Dad's in that boat at the moment. He's had hormone therapy and radiotherapy and it's done the job so far, brought his PSA levels back down into the normal range. I wasn't part of the discussions but like DrP said I think that combo was chosen over the surgical because of the lower side effects.
One of the small joys was pointing out that he'd rattled on for years about not liking tattoos, and now he's the first in the family that's got 3 of them; one on either hip and one in by his groin, to line the death laser radiotherapy device up.
Sage advise as always, I'll certainly be engaging with my oncologist on this one, but as people have already pointed out 'one man's meat is another's poison'so no one answer is correct. Definitely some tough choices ahead.
I was in the same position 2 years ago - I was offered surgery, radiotherapy or active surveillence. The surgeon was really keen to cut it out and explained how he'd successfully treated a guy who did Ironman events with no side effects and said it wouldn't stop me cycling. The radiology guy was a bit more objective and steered me towards making the active surveillence decision which has meant getting a PSA blood-test every 3 months. A friend was in an almost identical position to me with the same Gleeson score and was doing active surveillence until the blood tests showed a big spike in his PSA levels and he has had the operation with no complications.
Get all the advice you can. Weigh it up carefully. I was told that surgery was the best option for me but I still looked into all other options before eventually going for the surgery. I can’t lie - it was a tough time, physically and emotionally. Two years on and I have made a good recovery all things considered. Good luck.
Firstly I’m sorry about your diagnosis. Secondly having recently been in the receiving end of a life changing diagnosis myself (MS so not immediately, and hopefully never, life threatening) I agree that talking with actual experts rather than online characters is the best option. Do bear in mind however that there is unlikely to be a clear treatment winner. More likely you will have to weigh up all the options, pick one, hold your breath and go for it.
A bit late to the thread and encouraged with all the really positive posts. I had a prostatectomy 6 years ago and there is quite a lot about it on here.
Fellow riders including crewlie and others helped me through it and a group of us did a big fundraiser Cairngorm ride for awareness, which Sanny came along on and wrote up. We’ve been meeting up for regular away weekend rides ever since !
Surgery has moved on a fair bit and it seems like collateral damage to ones ability to perform has reduced a lot so that’s gotta be good.
As others have said, some variants will kill you and some variants you will die with, but with other causes of death. Age seems relevant; I was diagnosed in my late 40’s so surgeon reckoned removal was the best plan. If I’d been 60 he may have said different.
One sobering point in my case was that the presurgery assessment suggested it was likely a slow growing thing, whereas the pathology on the tumour, once removed, showed it to be aggressive and would have got me sooner rather than later. We’re all different though.
Best wishes on your journey and please PM at any time.
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